Jonathan Conceding Defeat, a Legacy For African Continent, Says Qouttara

President of Cote D'Ivoire, Allassan Qouttara

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

President of Cote D'Ivoire, Allassan Qouttara, on Monday said the presidential election which President Goodluck Jonathan, an incumbent, lost and conceded defeat to an opposition president-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), would contimue to remain a great legacy for the African continent.

Qouttara, who paid a private visit to Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, told State House correspondents that the refusal of an incumbent President in his country, Laurent Gbagbo in relinquishing power five years ago, led to the loss of over 3,000 lives in a needless civil war.

He recalled that he and his team were locked up in a hotel for four and half months,  without food and water for days.

The Ivorien President noted that Jonathan had won his admiration for that singular act of conceding defeat.

He stressed that Jonathan's decisions dis not come as a surprise, because he (Jonathan)   had always demonstrated he was more West African than Nigerian by his contributions in quelling the crisis in Mali,  Guinea Bissau, and Togo.

Qouttara added that avoiding violence and civil war when  any elections is held in Africa, should be the objective of leaders of African continent.

"I came on a private visit to see my friend and brother and to congratulate the Nigerian people for the conduct of the presidential election. On May 29 there will be inauguration and swearing in of the President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. So I wanted to tell you (Jonathan) our appreciation for the leadership we have received from you during all these years.

"Mr. President, you know about five years ago Cote D' Ivoire had presidential elections and I won the election and the incumbent president decided not to leave office. This brought a civil war and 3000 people were killed and we were put at hotel and under the protection of the United Nations for about four and half months. There were days we could not even have food or water because the hotel had been barricaded and encircled by the former president and it was only after four and half months of imprisonment in these hotel that finally that were able to leave the hotel after the former president was caught and finally left office for me to take over.